Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war seeking refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he works to modernize his family's wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers.

Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry's side. But a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder --including her own.

When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family's livelihood and legacy. As misguided actions are brought to light, Kate learns how deep her father's pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village's future.

My Review: The Weaver's Daughter is a romance set in 1812 in Yorkshire, England. The heroine was the daughter of a man who made cloth using traditional weaving methods, and they're losing their livelihood to mill owners, like the hero's grandfather. Sounds exciting, except I quickly realized that I knew more about the conflict than the author did. It seemed merely an excuse for conflict (summary version: "You're threatening my livelihood...stop or we'll destroy things!" "If I stop, others will still build and run mills plus many people will be unemployed." "How unreasonable you are! We will make you pay.").

Unfortunately, I also felt that the characters were often illogical and inconsistent in their behavior. For example, a man who saved Henry's life in the war turned up asking for a job. Henry needed guards to protect his mill. But rather than have a loyal, military-trained guard, Henry gave him a mill worker's job even though he was warned this would upset the locals.

Also, the character's motives kept changing (and usually not because circumstances changed or anything). For example, we're initially told that Kate won't agree to marry John because she's not sure if he wants her or just her father's business (even though he says that he loves and respects her and values her knowledge). Then we're told it's because she doesn't want to be dependent on anyone; she wants to be in control of her fate and the business. Later, it's because she's always known that John's a deceiver and manipulator (and this charge came out of nowhere).

The characters also had modern sensibilities. For example, Henry was an ex-military leader and was prepared to lead some men to defend his mill against an attack. He had full legal right to kill anyone destroying his property. Yet he refused to fight and just let them destroy his property until someone aimed a gun at one of his workers. Despite the risk of missing (more so as the pistols of the time weren't very accurate), Henry aimed at the attacker's leg in hopes of shooting and stopping him. This was not the mindset of a military man of the time.

The story ended with Henry promising never-ending love to a woman because she filled the empty spaces in his soul and he felt peace in her presence. I would have expected a Christian book to point to God for this, but God didn't really show up in this story. There was no sex. The bad language was written in the "he cursed" style rather than the actual words.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description from Back Cover:
A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a group of students but PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved--and lost--walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn't expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked--no, ran--from over a year ago. She had her reasons--good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn't the kind of man to give up--not on the missing students, or on her.

Life and love hang in the balance in Susan May Warren's breathless story of holding on to hope during a deadly summer of storms.

My Review:Storm Front is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the fifth book in a series. I'd recommend reading the previous books in the series as there are ongoing story lines that were further developed in this book. For example, Ben and Kacey's relationship crumbled as their wedding was canceled yet again. Some of the misunderstandings that they originally struggled with are back. They must work through their insecurities and the differences in their priorities. I appreciate that the author didn't portray everything as going smoothly just because a couple loves each other enough to get married.

The suspense in the story mainly came from tornadoes touching down nearby and the dangers involved in the rescue efforts.The characters were likeable people who reacted realistically to events. The PEAK Rescue team traveled to where Ben was on tour and searched for several missing people, including Chet. Ty struggled with his role on the team while refusing to give up hope during the search efforts. Brette lost hope as cancer ravaged her body, and she no longer feels like she has a future.

The Christian theme was how Christians can find hope in seemingly hopeless or sad situations. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable story.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description from Goodreads:
With Angie and Tate's wedding just around the corner, it's a happy--but very busy--time for Mel. Not only is she doing double duty as both the maid of honor and best man, but her bakery, Fairy Tale Cupcakes, has just been hired to provide cupcakes for a famous author's book signing. But when the author turns up dead, it's just the start of a murder mystery that Mel must solve.

My Review:Wedding Cake Crumble is a cozy mystery. It is the tenth book in a series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book did not spoil the mysteries in the previous books. However, the main focus of this book was the wedding between Angie and Tate and the romantic relationships of the other workers at the cupcake shop. I suspect that people who have read the previous books will find that content more interesting.

There were not very many clues in the mystery. Whodunit was on my suspect list from early on simply because we were not offered very many suspects. Mel figured out whodunit (and the motive) due to an inspiration at the end and was able to save the next victim on whodunit's list. Yay! But we never really learn how whodunit managed to successfully overpower and kill so many people, just the motive.

There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. And, author, using a little "g" when the characters say, "Oh my god!" doesn't make the phrase less problematic...especially when it turned out that at least some of the characters saying it attend a Christian church and actually do believe in God. Overall, I liked the characters enough that I enjoyed the story, but I'd mainly recommend it to the series fans.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Far from the kingdom of Torvald, on the Western Isles near the coast, Lila is the daughter of the Raider leader, destined to take his place one day aboard their plundering ships. But Lila wants the Raiders to become Dragon Mercenaries, dragon riders who help protect merchant fleets and navies from attack. Her father Kasian is skeptical, but a young mage named Danu—with a quest of his own—comes bearing a prophecy claiming that Lila is the lost heir of Roskilde.

With Danu’s guidance, Lila finds the dragon she’s destined to bond with—but the mismatched pair soon learn that much more than just their futures is at stake.

My Review:Dragon Raider is a young adult fantasy novel. The heroine is a young woman who was adopted as an orphaned baby by the leaders of the Sea Raiders, a group of people reminiscent of the Vikings. She wants to bond with a dragon and create a Dragon Raider group because the Sea Raiders' ships are getting destroyed by an evil, neighboring, usurper King. But the heroine no longer quite fits in with the Sea Raiders once she tries to forge a new path, even if it's one that will save them.

Danu is a young man with the ability to do magic and speak with dragons. He was training with the witches when the leader of the witches had a dream prophecy. Now Danu is committed to finding the rightful heir to the throne of Roskilde, who will stand against the returning darkening. However, convincing the heroine that he is trustworthy and that she is the princess is the least of his problems. Not everyone is convinced that a Sea Raider heir can ever be on the right side of a war.

The characters were interesting and acted realistically. The world building was woven into the story. There was a lot of action and suspense, including several battles. There was no sex. There was a very minor amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting and exciting fantasy.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As Village Blend manager Clare Cosi attempts to finalize a date for her wedding, her ex-husband becomes addicted to making dates through smartphone swipes. Clare has mixed feelings about these quickie matchups happening in her coffeehouse. Even her octogenarian employer is selecting suitors by screenshot! But business is booming, and Clare works hard to keep the espresso shots flowing. Then one dark night, another kind of shot leaves a dead body for her to find.

Now, with the help of her ex and crew of quirky baristas, Clare starts "swiping" through suspects in her own shop, determined to find the real killer before another shot rings out.

My Review:Shot in the Dark is a cozy mystery about drugs and dating apps. This novel is the 17th in the series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this story didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous books.

The story mainly focused on a dating app that encouraged people to casually hook up and dump each other. A woman uses Clare's shop to dramatically threaten to shoot a man who verbally abuses women after dates. Videos go viral. Clare tries to save the coffee shop's reputation while solving two murders. Clare asked good questions and noticed things that didn't seem right, so there were clues. You can tell who were bad guys. However, what's going on is complex enough that it was difficult to know precisely who did what until the end.

There was a fair amount of bad language. Clare and her boyfriend frequently headed for the bedroom, but it was fade-to-black style; there were no graphic sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Newly returned from investigating a murder in Monkslip-super-Mare, handsome Max Tudor wants nothing more than to settle back into his predictable routine as vicar of St. Edwold’s Church in the village of Nether Monkslip. But the flow of his sermon on Bathsheba is interrupted when the lady of the local manor house is found in a suicide pact with her young lover.

Lady Duxter’s husband rallies quickly from the double tragedy―too quickly, it is murmured in the village. When a young girl goes missing and a crime writer becomes a target, DCI Cotton asks Max to lend his MI5 expertise to the investigation.

My Review:In Prior's Wood is a mystery set in England. This is the seventh book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one did not spoil the mysteries of the previous books.

Details about the setting were woven into the story, making the village seem a distinct, unique place full of interesting people. The point of view was distant rather than deeply in someone's head, so we got the background and thoughts of a number of characters. Max, an Anglican priest married to a Wiccan, was the main point-of-view character. People came to him to share their concerns about things that happened, and Max gleaned clues from these conversations. He helped his detective friend solve the mystery. We're not told everything that Max hears, thinks, or does, so some things came as a surprise and were explained only at the end. Even so, there were enough clues that I strongly suspected whodunit.

There were no sex scenes. There was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting and relaxing mystery.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
New York City, 1910. Invisible until she’s needed, Jane Prescott has perfected the art of serving as a ladies’ maid to the city’s upper echelons. When she takes up a position with the Benchley family, dismissed by the city’s elite as “new money”, Jane realizes that while she may not have financial privilege, she has a power they do not—she understands the rules of high society. The Benchleys cause further outrage when their daughter Charlotte becomes engaged to notorious playboy Norrie, the son of the eminent Newsome family.

But when Norrie is found murdered at a party, Jane discovers she is uniquely positioned—she’s a woman no one sees, but who witnesses everything; who possesses no social power, but that of fierce intellect—and therefore has the tools to solve his murder. There are many with grudges to bear: from the family Norrie was supposed to marry into, to the survivors of a tragic accident in a mine owned by the Newsomes, to the rising anarchists who are sick of those born into wealth getting away with anything they want. Jane also knows that in both high society and the city’s underbelly, morals can become cheap in the wrong hands: scandal and violence simmer just beneath the surface—and can break out at any time.

My Review:A Death of No Importance is a mystery set in 1910 in New York City. I loved that the lady's maid was able to solve the mystery because of her skill set. Jane knew a wine stain from a blood stain, how different stain patterns might happen (jostled elbow, etc.), and noticed things that were out of place, all because it's her job to clean these things up. She was wise in how she gathered clues and intelligent in her ability to put the clues together. Since so many people had motive and opportunity, it wasn't an easy task to narrow things down. While one character seemed the most likely murderer to me, I wasn't certain about whodunit until the very end.

Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the mystery, and the writing immersed me in the story. It felt like this really could have happened and that these people once lived. The characters acted realistically and were interesting and varied. I cared about what happened to the various characters, even the less likable ones. I understood why they acted as they did.

There were no sex scenes, though a past rape was described in vague terms by one character. There was a minor amount of bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this historical mystery.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Horatio Leavenworth, a wealthy merchant and pillar of nineteenth-century New York society, has been found shot to death in his Fifth Avenue mansion. Circumstances point to a member of his household as the killer and particularly to his lovely nieces, one of whom will inherit his fortune. The idea of a lady murderer, especially one of the Leavenworths' social stature, is almost too shocking to entertain, although the evidence — a broken key, an incriminating letter, and an overheard snatch of conversation — points toward the young nieces. But which one?

This brilliantly plotted tale of love, greed, sacrifice, and betrayal introduced the first American series detective, Ebenezer Gryce, and is widely considered the first full-length detective story written by a woman. The suspenseful bestseller is credited with attracting writers to a genre previously considered unworthy of serious literary attention. It remains not only a fascinating whodunit but also an absorbing look at nineteenth-century mores and manners.

My Review:The Leavenworth Case is a mystery set in New York City that was first published in 1878. A rich man is found murdered in a locked library, and a niece who will inherit little is caught destroying evidence along with the key to the library. The clues soon point suspicion instead toward someone who has much more to gain from the death, but did that person commit the murder or get someone else to do it?

While I initially correctly guessed whodunit, the clues pointed first here and then there, so I was no longer certain about who did it until the confession at the end. The main character was a gentleman in whom the ladies and others trusted and confided. He helped the official detective to gather clues, but the detective was the one to provoke the confession.

The characters were interesting and a product of their time, but they weren't highly developed. There was no sex or bad language (beyond a few exclamations referring to God by people who believed in God). Overall, I'd recommend this interesting and complex mystery.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It's fiesta time in Broken Boot, Texas, and tourists are pouring into town faster than free beer at a bull roping for the mouthwatering Cinco de Mayo festivities. Tex-Mex waitress Josie Callahan, her feisty abuela, and even her spunky Chihuahua Lenny are polishing their folklorico dances for Saturday's big parade, while Uncle Eddie is adding his own spicy event to the fiesta menu: Broken Boot's First Annual Charity Chili Cook-off.

But Uncle Eddie's hopes of impressing the town council go up in smoke when cantankerous chili cook Lucky Straw is found dead in his tent. And when Josie's beloved uncle is accused of fatal negligence, she, Lenny, and the steadfast Detective Lightfoot must uncover who ended the ambitious chilihead's life--before another cook kicks the bucket.

My Review:Cinco de Murder is a cozy mystery. It is the third in a series, but you don't need to read the previous novels in order to understand this one. This book did not spoil the previous mysteries.

I enjoyed the characters more than the mystery. The people were interesting and full of personality while still acting realistically. Josie had integrity about not sharing information that she'd been asked not to share, which I appreciated. I liked how the growing attraction between Josie and Lightfoot was portrayed.

The detective wasn't sure that the death even was a murder, but Josie kept coming up with possible murder scenarios. She changed her scenario every time she learned new information, so it's not surprising that she didn't solve whodunnit until that person basically confessed when confronting her. At least she managed to get free and help stop that person from fleeing justice. However, I never was clear exactly how the murder was done, though the general method was given.

There was no sex. There was one use of mild bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun mystery.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
With no ID for his pet, an agitated young man shows up at Cassie's Comfy Cats claiming his house has burned down and he needs to board his big, brown cat, Ayesha. But after a bath washes dye out of the cat's coat and reveals beautiful spots, Cassie suspects the exotic-looking feline may in fact be a valuable Bengal show cat, possibly stolen. At the same time, there are rumored sightings of a "wild cat" in the hills of Chadwick, New Jersey. Could there be a connection?

When Ayesha's alleged owner turns up dead, it looks like whoever wants the beautiful Bengal is not pussyfooting around. Working with the police, Cassie and her staff need to be careful not to reveal the purloined purebred's whereabouts while they discreetly make inquiries to cat breeders to find her real owners. But after a break-in attempt rattles Cassie's cage, it's clear someone let the cat out of the bag. And when a second body is found, it's up to Cassie to spot the killer, who may be grooming her to be the next victim .

My Review:The Bengal Identity is a cozy mystery. It is the second book in a series, but you don't need to read the previous book to understand this one. The previous mystery was not spoiled in this book.

The main character was a nice person who cared about others. She asked intelligent questions and was good at spotting things that should be investigated. The mystery involved exotic cats and illegal breeding operations. There were only a few possible suspects, so it wasn't too difficult to figure out whodunit. However, the story still kept me interested all the way to the end.

There were no sex scenes. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable and interesting cat-related mystery.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
'Adrian Gray was born in May 1862 and met his death through violence, at the hands of one of his own children, at Christmas, 1931.'

Thus begins a classic crime novel published in 1933 that has been too long neglected - until now. It is a riveting portrait of the psychology of a murderer.

Each December, Adrian Gray invites his extended family to stay at his lonely house, Kings Poplars. None of Gray's six surviving children is fond of him; several have cause to wish him dead. The family gathers on Christmas Eve - and by the following morning, their wish has been granted.

This fascinating and unusual novel tells the story of what happened that dark Christmas night; and what the murderer did next.

My Review:Portrait of a Murderer is a historical crime fiction set in 1931 at Christmas in England. It was published in 1933. The story is told primarily from the viewpoint of murderer. He calculated how to get away with the crime as well as justified himself mentally and waxed philosophical about it. The first half of the story was setting up murder--describing who was in the house and why they would want to kill the victim--and then describing how the murderer tried to cover his crime up.

The second half was how the police and one of the other people at the house at the time of the murder figured out who did it and how they proved it. The murderer was not likable, but the man that he set up to take the fall was even less likable.

There was no sex. There was a minor amount of bad language. Overall, I would recommend this interesting mystery.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Abigail Brantley grew up in affluence and knows exactly how to behave in high society. But when she is cast from the social registers due to her father's illegal dealings, she finds herself forced into a role she never imagined: tutoring rough Kansas ranchers in the subjects of manners and morals so they can "marry up" with their mail-order brides. Mack Cleveland, whose father was swindled by a mail-order bride, wants no part of the scheme to bring Eastern women to Spiveyville, Kansas, and he's put off by the snooty airs and fastidious behavior of the "little city gal" in their midst. But as time goes by, his heart goes out to the teacher who tries so diligently to smooth the rough edges from the down-to-earth men. How can he teach her that perfection won't bring happiness?

My Review:Beneath a Prairie Moon is a Christian romance set in 1888 in Kansas. A group of men from a small, rough town in the West send money to a matchmaker agency in the East since there are no available local women. The matchmaker, an older widow, decides to travel to the town to assess the men to best match them up.

She brings along a younger woman who has been rejected by several matches. This gal uses manners as a shield to prevent people from accusing her of any wrongdoing and longs to retake her place in high society which was lost when her father committed a crime. She is tasked with teaching the potential grooms some basic etiquette.

The sheriff of the town is initially worried that the women are pulling a scam. The men of the town are impatient for their brides and don't see the point of learning etiquette. The sheriff and a respected shopkeeper keep an eye on the women to prevent the eager men from bothering them. The shopkeeper befriends the young woman when he learns of her past because he knows what it's like to be accused by society when you've done nothing wrong.

The story was told from the viewpoints of these four characters. It was a light-hearted story with funny moments. While etiquette played a large role in the story, the focus of the story was on how the main characters reacted to events and grew as people. The romance developed over time as people got to know each other and became friends. The main characters learned to more deeply trust in God. There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable romance.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the newest mystery from the national bestselling author of Where the Dead Lie, a brutal murder draws Sebastian St. Cyr into the web of the royal court, where intrigue abounds and betrayal awaits.

London, 1814. As a cruel winter holds the city in its icy grip, the bloody body of a beautiful young musician is found half-buried in a snowdrift. Jane Ambrose's ties to Princess Charlotte, the only child of the Prince Regent and heir presumptive to the throne, panic the palace, which moves quickly to shut down any investigation into the death of the talented pianist. But Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, and his wife Hero refuse to allow Jane's murderer to escape justice.

Untangling the secrets of Jane's world leads Sebastian into a maze of dangerous treachery where each player has his or her own unsavory agenda and no one can be trusted. As the Thames freezes over and the people of London pour onto the ice for a Frost Fair, Sebastian and Hero find their investigation circling back to the palace and building to a chilling crescendo of deceit and death .

My Review:Why Kill the Innocent is a mystery set in January 1814 in London (during a bad winter storm and Frost Fair). This book is the 13th in a series, but you can understand it without having read the previous novels. This novel did not spoil the mysteries from the previous books.

The characters were complex, interesting, and acted in realistic ways. Both Hero and Sebastian were deeply involved in the investigation. As usual, several social issues of the time were woven into the story as they touched on the investigation. There were several suspects but Sebastian had difficulty finding the critical clues that definitively pointed to one person. I began to suspect whodunit near the end but was not certain until the final clue was found.

There were no graphically described sex scenes, but there was a scene that ended with two brief paragraphs indicating sex between a married couple. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting historical mystery.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

About Me

My name is Debbie. I'm a single female in my thirties. I have three book review blogs: one for well-written, clean fiction; one for nonfiction (memoirs, history, military, religion, and social issues); and a book club for Christian nonfiction.

My other review blogs

Why this blog?

I like to read, but it can be hard to find clean mainstream fiction anymore. Hopefully this blog will help others who have similar reading tastes to find clean novels to read.

In my reviews, I try to point out elements that I think readers may wish to know which might influence their decision to read a book. I'm not trying to convince people not to read a book as I'm fully aware that some things which bother me won't bother others at all. So if a book sounds fun to you, certainly give it a try!

Disclosure StatementI'm not paid to review books. I do receive free review copies from publishers, authors, etc., but I also review books I've bought or checked out of the library. I review all books by the same standard, no matter the source. My readers are assuming I am, and the publishers expect it.